Massage device.



N0- 799,881. 7 PATENTED SEPT. 19, 1905. J. B. WELLS.

MASSAGE DEVICE.

APPLIGATION FILED OCT. 31.1904.

2 SHEBTSSHEET 1,

' @t/Qm 5 O 9 1 9 1 T P E S D E T N E T A P J. B. WELLS.

MASSAGE DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED 001:. 31,1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E rrE JEROME B. ELLS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

MASSAGE DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 19(15.

Application filed October 31, 1904. Serial No. 230,835.

To all whom, it may concern;

Be it known that I, JEROME B. VVELLs, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Massage Devices; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in massage-machines.

The object of this invention is to provide a device for performing the operation of massage more effectively and more expeditiously than can be done with the human hand, and therefore without the consequent labor on the part of the operator or weariness on the part of the patient.

My invention therefore consists in providing a soft yielding pad adapted to take the place of the hand and providing means for imparting to the pad a gentle reciprocating movement similar to the movement of the human hand when performing the massage operation. I generally provide two of these pads, as in a massage operation both hands are customarily used, and so support the pads that they will conform to the contour of the body or limb of the patient in order that they can be used under all circumstances and will accomplish identically the same result as handmassage.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an end elevation of my massage-machine. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4c is a section on line 2 2, Fig. 2.

Again referring to the drawings, 1 represents the casing-of my machine,-which consists of a rectangular box, preferably closed at the top and open at the bottom. In the casing 1 is rotatably mounted a double crankshaft 2, one end of which projects beyond the casing and is provided with a pulley 3 or other means of rotating said crank-shaft. On the cranks 4L and 5 of the crank-shaft 2 are mounted sleeves 6 and 7, which turn freely thereon. The sleeves 6 and 7 have four flat faces. On the respective sleeves 6 and 7 are hung yokes 8 and 9, which fit loosely against two of the flat faces of the said sleeves, so that said sleeves can slide or move vertically within said yokes without causing a vertical movement of said yokes. In the respective yokes 8 and 9 are formed slots 10 and 11, and on the respective sleeves 6 and 7 are arranged pins 12 and 13, which project into the said slots 10 and 11 and hold the said yokes centrally on the respective cranks. By thus mounting the yokes on the shaft 2 it is possible to impart to the said yokes when the shaft 2 is rotated a reciprocating horizontal motion without moving the said yokes vertically.

A rod 15 is secured centrally in the casing 1 below and transversely of the shaft 2. At the bottom of the casing 1 are arranged two metallic plates 17 and 18. The plate 17 is secured to the said rod 15 by a hinge mem-' ber 19, and the plate 18 is secured to the said rod .15 by hinge members 20. On the plate 17 is formed a lug or projection 21, which extends up between the side pieces of the yoke 8 and is hinged in said yoke by means of a pin 22. Stops 23 are arranged on the yoke 8 at eachside of the said lug 21 to limit the movement of said'lug as it swings between the sides of the yoke. A similar lug 24 is formed on the plate 18 and is arranged to extend up between the side pieces of the yoke 9 and is hinged therein by means of a pin 25. Stops 26 are arranged on the yoke 9 at each side of the said lug 24 to limit the swing of the said lug. To the bottom of said plates 17 and 18 are secured pads, of rubber or other suitable material, 27 and 28, respectively, and the outer surfaces of said pads are preferably corrugated. Copper studs 29 are secured in both of the plates 17 and 18 and are arranged to extend through the said pads 27 and 28. A small rod 30 is arranged above the rod 15, and thereon are mounted two bow-springs 31 and 32, the ends of which are arranged to press against the upper surface of the plates 17 and 18.

The casing 1 is provided with handles 33 and 34:.

On the top of the casing 1 is arranged a screw-clamp 35, to which one end of an electric circuit may be attached, so as to form an electrode of the massage-machine.

hat I claim is v 1. A massage device comprising a casing, a shaft rotatably mounted in said casing, means for imparting a rotary motion to said shaft, a pad movably supported at the bottom of said casing and means for forming an operative connection between said pad and said shaft so that the rotary movement of said shaft will cause a reciprocating movement of said pad transversely of the surface being treated and parallel therewith.

2. A device for performing massage operation, comprising a casing, a crank shaft mounted in said casing, means for imparting a rotary movement to said crank shaft, a pad movably supported from said casing, a spring supported above said pad so as to exert a downward pressure thereon, and a yoke arranged over the crank on the said shaft and secured to said pad so that the rotation of the said shaft will impart a reciprocating motion to said pad.

'3. A massage device comprising acasing, a double crank-shaft rotatably mounted in said casing, means for rotating said shaft, a bar arranged in the lower part of said casing, pads hinged to said bar, springs arranged in said casing so as to exert a downward pressure on said pads, yokes arranged over the cranks on said crank-shaft and secured to said pads and means for conducting an electric current through said pads.

4:. A massage device comprising a casing, a double crank-shaft rotatably mounted in said casing, means for rotating said shaft, a bar arranged in lower part of said casing, pads hinged to said bar, means for exerting a downward pressure on said pads and yokes arranged over the cranks of the said crank-shaft and pivotally secured to the said pads.

5. A massage device comprising a casing, a double crank-shaft rotatably mounted in said casing, means for rotating said shaft, a bar arranged in lower part of said casing, pads hinged to said bar, springs arranged in said casing so as to exert a downward pressure on said pads, sleeves arranged on the cranks of said crank-shaft, slotted yokes arranged over said sleeves and secured to said pads, and pins arranged on said sleeves and passing through the slots in said yokes, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

6. A massage device comprising a casing, a double crank-shaft rotatably mounted in said casing, means for rotating said shaft, a bar arranged in lower part of said casing, pads hinged to said bar, a bar arranged above the first-mentioned bar, bow-springs mounted on said bar and arranged to come in contact with said pads, and a yoke arranged over each of the cranks on the said shaft and secured to the respective pads, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign the foregoing specification, in the presence of two witnesses, this 8th day of October, 1904:, at Cleveland,

Ohio.

JEROME B. WELLS. Witnesses:

VICTOR O. LYNCH, G. M. HAYES. 

